Arizmendi Bakery and Pizzeria

A past winner of the best bakery in the East Bay category of the Express Best of the East Bay awards, Arizmendi  named for Basque priest/labor organizer Father José Arizmendiarrietta  is a worker-owned cooperative first conceived in 1997 by workers from Berkeleys famous Cheeseboard Collective. Although a full array of sweet and savory baked goods is on offer here  from baguettes to macaroons  thin-crusted artisanal pizza is the main attraction. Only one topping-combo is available every day, and that combo changes every day, and its always meatless, featuring such components as roasted red onions, shiitake mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and arugula. If youre not the take-what-comes/go-with-the-flow type, check out the whole months pizza menu online.